Loose-leaf binder



Sept. 9, 1941. I P. o. UNGER LOOSE-LEAF BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, 1938 .1 Mg Qw 4.

Sept. 9, 1941. P. o. UNGER LOOSE-LEAF BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2, 1938 I r v r 1 A I 1 I Patented Sept. 9, 1941 LOOSE-LEAF BIND-En Paul O. Unger, Elmhurst, 111., assignor to Wilson: Jones Company, Chicago, IlL, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 2, 1938, Serial No. 238,325

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder and more particularly to a strap binder having improved adjusting means for holding the straps taut or releasing them quickly.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and efficient lock capable of securely holding the straps in any position and of releasing them quickly. It is a further object of this invention to provide means for automatically locking the book when the straps are made taut. It is a further object of my invention to provide means preventing relative angular movement of the retaining flanges and the sheet contents of the binder when the covers are. opened. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the binder in open position;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line IIII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail plan View of the means for holding the back taut;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line IVIV of Figure 1 but showing one cover closed and the sheets in the binder;

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4 taken along the line VV of Figure 1;

Figure Bis a detail view of the lock in locked position; and I Figure 'l is a detail view of the lock in unlocked position.

In the drawings, the reference numerals. 2 and 3 indicate a pair of cover members connected by means of a back cover flap 4 and a pair of strap members 5. The cover member 2 comprises a piece 6 of binders board or light Wood cut out, as indicated at l, to form a U-shaped member open towards the binding edge of the binder. A metal plate 8 secured to the board 6 covers the bottom of the cut out portion to form a shallow receptacle.

The outer surfaces of the binder are bound in leather 9 or in any other suitable material. The binding member 9 is secured to a thin board l9 free of any contact with the plate 8 and spaced therefrom by means of a thin strip ll of binders board or similar material to allow one end of the back cover flap 4 to extend between the plate 8 and the thin board Hi. The back cover flap 4 is designed to harmonize with the binding 9 and is preferably formed of the same material.

One end of the back flap is secured to the cover extending between the plate8 and the thin board In is shown in detail in Figure 3. A metal strip I3 is bent over the edge of the flap and secured thereto. by means of the rivets Hi. A pin [5 7 projects from the strip l3 and has one end of a spring l6 securedthereto. The other end of the spring. I6 is secured to a pin H which projects through a slot l8 inthe plate 8 and is secured to the housing l9 whichcontains the mechanism for holding the straps 5 taut. A plate 28, provided with a pair of slots 2!, 22, is positioned between the plate .8 and the spring it to limit the expansion of the spring.

The straps 5 arerigidly secured at one end to the cover member 3. and at the other end to a bar 23. The lock housing 59 is secured to the bar 23. in any suitable manner. The side walls [9 and IQ" of the housing [9 are apertured to receive a lock bar 24 upon which the housing i9 is adapted to slide. Oneend of the locking bar 24 isv spaced from the plate 8 by means of a spacing block 25 and is secured to th plate 8 by means of a rivet 2%. The other end of the lock bar2 2iis riveted to a hinge plate 27, as indicated at 8.

The locking mechanism includes an angular plate member 29, preferably U-shaped in cross section and preferably consisting of a pair of parallel Walls 36 and aconnecting Wall 3!. The wall 3,! is apertured, as indicated at 32, to allow the lock bar 24 to pass therethrough. The angular plate member 29 is pivoted in the lock housing l9 by means of a stud 33. A flat spring 34 has one end inserted in an aperture 35 in the wall 3i and its other end pressing against the side wall 59 of the housing lfi. The spring 36 exerts a constant force against the wall 3i of the angular plate member 29 to urge the angular plate member into locking position.

A finger lever 36 is pivotally secured to the angular plate member 29, as indicated at 37, and projects through the wall 59'. The finger lever 36 is provided with a smooth head 38 to facilitate manual movement of the angular plate member 29 against the action of the spring 34, When the angular plate member 29 is moved to unlocked position, as indicated in Figure '7, it is parallel to. the walls it and It" of the housing l9, and the aperture 32 is of sufficient length to allow the lock housing to move freely on the lock rod 24 in either direction. A pawl member 39 pivoted to the lock housing l9, as indicated at 49, has a tooth 4| adapted to be engaged by one end of the angular plate member when the an- 3 by means of rivets 12. The end of the flap 4 gular'plate member is moved to unlocked 1- tion. A spring 42 exerts force against the pawl 39 to keep the tooth 4| in engagement with the angular plate member 29 to maintain the angular plate member in unlocked position against the action of the Spring 34. The pawl 39 i provided with a handle 43 which projects through an aperture 44 in the side wall [9" so that the handle can be engaged by the users finger to release the pawl tooth 4| from engagement with the angular plate member 29 so that the spring 34 can automatically move the angular plate member 29 to locked position. The handle 43 is positioned so that it must normally be engaged by the users fingers whenever the user grasps the bar 23 and the lock housing I9 to pull the straps taut.

The sheet contentsof the binders consists of a plurality of sheets 45 retained between a pair of transfer bars 46. The transfer bars are each provided with conventional sheet retainin posts 41 and with a plurality of projections 48 extending outwardly from the transfer bars. The cover member 2 is provided with a clamping bar 49 hinged to the hinge plate 21, as indicated at 59. 52, to the hinge plate 53 secured to the cover member 3. The clamping bars 49 and 5| are provided with apertures 54 and 55 adapted to receive the projections 48 to retain the sheet retaining unit in the binder. The projections 48 are long enough to prevent disengagement of the clamping bars 49 and 5| from the sheet retaining unit by pivotal movement of the clamping bars around the hinges 59 and 52.

In conventional strap binders whenever either cover member is swung to open position the straps become loose and the weight of the opened cover exerts a force against the clamping bar to cause it to become disengaged from the sheet retaining posts or projections by which the sheet retaining unit is retained in the binder. I have provided a plurality of bridge members 56 secured to the hinge plates 21 and 53. The straps 5 pass between the bridge members 56 and the respective hinge plates so that the straps are maintained as close as possible to the hinges and 52. Accordingly, when either cover is opened the straps are maintained in fairly taut position by the bridge members so that there is not sufficient slack in the straps to permit the clamping bars to become disengaged from the projections 48.

The operation of the binder is quite simple. The sheets are assembled on the transfer bars and the unit is inserted between the clamping bars 49 and 54. The lock housing 19 and bar 23 are moved towards the outer edge of the cover member 2 'until the projections 48 of the transfer bars are engaged in the apertures 54 and of the transfer bars. Continued application of force in the same direction pulls the straps taut. The lock housing locks against the A clamping bar 5| is hinged, as indicated at lock bar 24 automatically in any position. If any sheet is to be removed or inserted, the head 38 is pressed to move the angular plate member 29 to unlocked position and the covers may be separated and the sheets handled as desired.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a locking mechanism that is simple and efiicient in operation, that will secure the contents of the binder at any point and permit quick release of the contents. I have also provided simple means for maintaining the straps against the hinges when the covers are opened to prevent too much slack in the straps so that the clamping plates will not accidently separate from the sheet retaining unit when the covers are opened.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of the invention may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure described, except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a lock bar, a housing movable along said bar, an angular plate pivotally mounted in said housing and engageable with said bar to lock said bar and housing against relative movement in one direction, a spring urging said plate towards locking position,-a lever secured to one end of said plate and operable to move said plate to unlocked position against the action of said spring, and means engageable with the opposite end of said plate to hold said plate in unlocked position.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of cover members, a pair of straps secured to one of said cover members, and to a movable member in said other cover member, said straps being adapted to be pulled taut to hold said covers in sheet retaining position, locking mechanism in said other cover member adapted to hold said straps taut, means for holding said locking mechanism in unlocked position, and a handle on said means, said handle being normally engaged in the operation of pulling said straps taut, said normal engagement of said handle being effective to render said holding means inoperative.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of cover members, a pair of straps adapted to be pulled taut to hold said covers in sheet retaining position, locking mechanism in one of said cover members adapted to hold said straps taut, means for holding said locking mechanism in unlocked position, and means normally engaged by the users fingers when said straps are pulled taut to move said first mentioned means to inoperative posilOIl.

PAUL O. UNGER. 

